Advertising or display apparatus



Nov. 1, 1938 J. R. BRAMER ADVERTISING OR DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 77' TORNE Y.

Nov. 1, 1938. J BRAMER ADVERTISING OR DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTORNEV.

Nov. 1, 1938. J, R sgAMER 2,135,207

ADVERTISING OR DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR. JOHN R BR/i/VE/P.

BY Away/Aka Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATS ersr OFFICE,

24 Claims.

This invention relates to advertising or display apparatus of the changing type, such as comprise a housing having a window in front of which are presented, in succession, various changes of display panels and is particularly intended for apparatus of this type wherein the panels are turned over between each successive presentation thereof so that each of the two faces of said panels are alternately shown and thereby doubling the number of displays or advertisements which may be exhibited in a machine of a given size.

An object of this invention is to provide, for such an apparatus, a simple mechanism which re- 1 quires a minimum number of parts, and which is highly efficient in its operation as well as economical to produce.

A further object is the provision of a mechanism employing the use of endless belts by means of which the operation of moving the different panels into a displaying position is mainly performed and thereby avoiding the use of complicated mechanism.

One form of the device embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front View, in elevation, of the apparatus with the front panel thereof removed.

Figure 2 is a view in Vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale, in section on line 3-3 of Figure 4, showing some additional parts not shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side view, in vertical section, of the mechanism as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partly diagrammatic view illustrating one step in the operation of the device.

Figure 6 is a similar View illustrating a further step.

Figure '7 is a similar view illustrating a still further step.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved apparatus comprises a casing 5 having a window 6 provided in the front thereof. A frame consisting of side members 7-! and top and bottom members 8-8 is mounted in said casing. The shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in bearings Ill-l6 in the said side members and near the bottom of said frame. A stationary shaft I l is also mounted in said side members near the top of said frame.

A pair of pulleys l2-l2 are rotatably mounted on the shaft H. Another pair of pulleys I3-l3 are mounted on the shaft 9 and secured thereto by means of pins l4 so as to be rotatable therewith.

Carrier belts l5-l5 extend over the upper and lower pulleys l2 and 13 at each side of said frame and are provided with spaced perfora- 52. tions is adapted to receive teeth, or pins, i! which are provided on said pulleys to mesh therewith for the purpose of properly positioning said belts with relation to said pulleys and to each other.

A pair 'of panel supporting members l8-l8 are mounted upon the shaft ll. Each of said members is positioned adjacent to one of the pulleys l2 and is stationary on said shaft. The

upper portion of said members is'semi-circular T5" in shape and of a slightly smaller radius than that of the pulleys l2-l2. The lower portion of said members is provided with a groove !9 extending downwardly at an angle towards the Window 6.

Each of the said carrier belts l5-l5 is prefer: ably constructed of a flexible thin strip of suitable material, such as spring metal, and is provided with notches and 2| adjacent to which are secured, on said belts, panel carrying clips 22 and 23. v

Retaining bars 24-24 are provided adjacent to that portion of the said belts l5-I5 which is located in front of the window 6. The said guides are secured by means of screws 25' to'the side members 1-! of the frame. Panel guide members 26-26 are also provided below said guide bars for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

' Suitable driving means for said apparatus may be provided in the form of a gear 21, which is mounted to the shaft 9, and an electric motor 28 having a driving pinion 29 in mesh with said gear 21.

I may employ in my apparatus, if desired, the use of guide levers 3!), which are rotatably mounted on the shaft H, and operating clips 31, carried on movable belts l5, for actuating said levers for the purpose tobe also hereinafter described.

I may also employ strippers 32. The use of said levers 30 and strippers 32 is optional, however, as they are not entirely necessary in the operation of my device but may be preferred when panels of certain types of material are used.

The panels adapted to be displayed by the apparatus are indicated at 33. Each of said panels is provided at the top and bottom thereof with a rod 34 which extends for a suitable distance beyond the side edges of said panels to provide extensions 34-0. whereby the said panels are supported and operated by their upper ends by means of the extensions 34 d of the rods 34, which fit in the grooves IQ of the panel supporting members |8-l8, and that the said panels hang perpendicularly therefrom. lThe rods 34 at the lower end of said panels tend, to exert a downward pull thereon causing. themto slide downwardly and perpendicular inthe grooves I9, on account of the inclination thereof, towards that side of the supporting members |8-|8 which is in front of the window 6. The said panels will move downwardly until the extensions, 34-a from the rods 34 of the foremost panel, will come to rest against the inside surfaces of the carrier belts l5 -l5.

The said carrier belts are continuously moving, in an upwardly direction in front of the window 6 by means of the rotation of the lower shaft 9by the motor 28 through the gear 21 and pinion 29. The said panels are, therefore, intermittently retained imposition, with the foremost panel in displaying position before the window 6, by means of the belts |5,-|5'which operate to hold the rods 34 in the grooves I9. When the said belts have moved to a position wherein the notches 2|] and 2| thereof are passing in' front of the extensions 34-11 of the rods 34, the foremost panel is caused to move forwardly, by reason ofthe inclination of the groove I9 and through gravity, until the extensions 34-a of the rods 34 of said panel have moved into position within the clips 22 and 23, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. At this time all of the panels, in back of the foremost one, move forwardly and downwardly in the grooves l9 until the second panel has come to rest in, the position previously occupied by the first panel. 7

It 'will be understood that the carrier belts are in continuous motion in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 5 to '7' of the drawings. V 7

Afterthe front panel has moved into the position illustrated in'Figure 5, continuing movement of said carrier belts will lift the said panel vertically, and in a perpendicular position, past the window 6.- If for any reasonthe lower rod 34 of the panel fails to moverinto the clip 23 at the time that the upper rod moves into the clip 22, the said lower rod will be pushed into the said clip 23 by the guides 26-46 as it passes upwardly in front of said guides.

The upper, or leading, end of the said panel, with its rod 34, will next be carried around the supports |8|8, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the V drawings.

The said panels are-constructed of a material which is. sufliciently rigid to cause the said upper rod to remain in position within the clips 22 so that they will not enter into the grooves l9 as they move around the guides past the openings into said grooves. If preferred, however, I may employ the guide levers '30, above described, to close the openings of said grooves as the said leading ends of the panels are passing the same. The said levers are rotatably mounted on the shaft H and are retained in an inoperative position against the stop pins 35, by'means of the springs 36. As the leading, or upper, ends of the panels are moving past the said levers, the lever operating clips 3| will engage the lever and move them forwardly against stop pins 35-a causing them a to close the entrances of the grooves H3 and thereby prevent entry of the rods, at the leading ends of said panels, into said grooves. As the said rods move further, the clips 3| will yield 1 and slide past the said levers 30 until they have become disengaged therefrom; at which time the said levers are pulled back into their normal position by the spring 36, as illustrated in Figure 5.

It is to be understood that after the rod at the upper or leading end of the panel has moved past the grooves, the said rod is still retained within theclips 22. In this manner the panel is carried by the carrier belts with its leading end moving downwardly, at one side of the belts,

while its lower end is moving upwardly at the opposite side thereof. Continuing movement of said carrier will carry the lower end of said panel over the saidguide, in the same manner as the leading end thereof was previously carried, until the same reaches theposition' illustrated in Figure 7 wherein the lower rod thereof,

which has now become the upper rod, will slide out of the clips 23 by gravity, through the notches 2|, into the grooves I9 and move downwardly therein until the said panel assumes its position in'back of the other panels. As, what is now, the upper bar of said panel slides, by gravity, out of the clips 23 into the grooves I9, the lower bar of said panels will engage the strippers 32, as it is moving downwardly, and the extensions 34--a of said bar will disengage from the clips 22 and pass through the notches 20, in the carrier belts, as the panel moves to its position against the other panels in front of it. It is pointed out that the guide levers an the guide members 32 are necessary for the proper operation of my improved apparatus only when it is desired to use panels of a highly flexible material such as cloth. It has been found that when the said panels are constructed ,of a suificiently rigid material, such as a substantially stiif paper, the rods will, of their own accord, remain in their proper position as the clips 22 are passing the grooves IS. The said rods will,

also of their own accord, pass through the notches 20 without the use of the strippers 32.

When the said guide members are used, however,

a more positive operation of the apparatus is obtained and it may be desired to include the said guide members irrespective of the type of panels used.

It will be noted that the notches 2| in the carrier belts are slightly larger than the notches- 20. This is to accommodate any variation, in

the distance between the lower and upper rods.

34, which may be caused by expansion or contraction of the material of the panels; thus permitting the lower rods 34 to readily enter into the lower clip 23 without interference by the edges of said notch.

From the above description, it will be understood that the panels are retained in their displaying position and within the grooves H! by.

verted so that first one face and then the opposite face, of said panels is displayed at each suc cessive cycle of operation. 7

The advertising or display matter is printed on both faces of the said panels but in relatively inverted position on the respective faces thereof so that, although the said panels are inverted, each successive time that they are displayed in front of the window, the said printed matter will be seen in an upright position.

From the above description. it will be clearly seen that I have provided an advertising ap paratus whereby both sides of a plurality of panels may be displayed successively by means of a mechanism which is highly efficient and extremely simple in its construction and operation.

It is particularlyv desired to point out that, by my invention, for an advertising apparatus, I have provided the novel means consisting of a carrier belt which is constructed of a strip of flexible material, such asmetal, and that by said means I am enabled to'retain the panels in position and cause changes of said panels by simply providing notches in said belts; the extensions on the rods at the ends of the panels passing through said notches into the carrying clips in which they are retained, by" means of the retaining bars 24-24, and the outer surfaces of the supports l8l8 until the panels have reached the position wherein the rods are released from said clips and allowed to pass back through the notches at which time the upper rod of the panels slides into the supporting grooves in said supports.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described adapted to display a series of independent panels and having inclined means for successively supporting said panels, endless traveling carriers at opposite margins of the panels adapted to retain the said panels upon said inclined supporting means, and means on said carriers for removing the front panel and transferring the same in an inverted position upon said supporting means and at the back of the series.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of panels adapted to be successively displayed, bars extending laterally from the ends of said panels, supporting means comprising .aninclined surface for supporting said bars with the said panels depending therefrom and causing the same to slide downwardly towards one side of said supporting means, rotatable members, endless carriers comprising strips of flexible material in engagement with and movable by said rotatable members; the said strips overlapping the ends of said bars for retaining the same in position upon said supporting surfaces and having notches in said edges for releasing the front bar and causing the succeeding panels to advance upon said supporting means, means on said carriers adjacent the said notches for receiving the ends of said bar to carry the said panel upon said carriers, separate notches on said carriers in alignment with the lower bars of said panels and receiving means for said bars on said carriers adjacent said notches.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of independent panels adapted to be successively displayed, lateral bars extending from the ends of said panels, supporting members having inclined surfaces adapt-ed to. support said bars, rotatable members adjacent said supporting members, endless carriers comprising flexible strips adjacent the margin of said panels and movable in front of said bars and in engagement therewith to retain said bars upon said supporting members, and bar receiving means upon said carriers including notches in the edges of said strips for the passage of said bars'therethrough into said receiving means.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of independent panels adapted to be successively displayed, supporting members for said panels, bars extending transversely from the ends of said panels in engagement Withsaid supporting members, endless carriers comprising endless strips of flexible material ad jacent the ends of said bars and adapted to engage the same and retain them upon said supporting surfaces, receiving means upon said carriers for receiving said bars .and comprising notches in said carrier strips for the passage of said bars therethrough into said receiving means, guide members adapted to guide the bar at the bottom of said panels into the bottom receiving means during the movement of said carriers, and retainers adjacent to said strips for retaining the said bar in said receiving means during the passage thereof in front of said retainers.

5. In combination with an apparatus of the character described for successively displaying a series of panels, means for supporting said panels and carrier means for successively removing the front panel of said series and transferring the same to the back thereof, said carrier means comprising rotatable members, projections on said members, and endless strips carried by said rotatable members and having perforations for the engagement of said strips by said projections.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of panels adapted to be successively displayed, laterally projecting bars at the top and'bottom of said panels, supporting means for supporting said bars comprising inclined grooves, endless carrier means adapted to receive the said bars of the front panel of said series and to transfer the said panel to the back of said series in an inverted position upon said inclined grooves, means operable by said carrier means for closing the entrances to said grooves upon the passing of the bar at the leading end of said panel and adapted to open said entrances after the passing of said leading end to permit entrance of the bar at the opposite end of said panel into said grooves.

7. A displaying apparatus of the character described comprising a series of panels adapted to be successively displayed thereby, and means for supporting said panels in stationary displaying position comprising Supporting members and endless carriers adapted to retain said panels upon said members.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of panels adapted to be suc cessively displayed, laterally projecting bars at the top and bottom of said panels, supporting means for supporting said bars, endless carrier means adapted to receive the said bars of the front panel of said series and'totransfer the said panel to the back of said series in an inverted position upon said supporting means, a shaft supporting said carrier means, rocker arms rotatably mounted on said shaft and having eX- tensions adapted to prevent entrance of one of said bars upon said supporting surfaces, and

means carried by said endless carriers for operating said rocker arms.

9. A displaying apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, supporting means, a series of panels, inclined surfaces on said supporting means adapted to support said panels and cause sliding movement thereof in onedirection, endless carriers movable in proximity with said supports, means on said carriers for receiving means.

10. An apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising a frame, stationary supports, a series ofpanels, inclined surfaces on said supports adapted to support said panels and permit slid ing movement thereof in one direction, endless carriers comprising flexible strips having one side thereof adjacent said supports and adapted to retain said panels thereon, and means upon the opposite sides of said strips forreceiving said panels and supporting the same thereon.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, stationary supports, a series of panels, endless carriers adjacent said supports and cooperating therewith to retainthe said panels thereon and means on said carriers for successively changing'thepositionof the panel at the front end of said series to the opposite end thereof.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame,'stationary supports, a series of panels, supporting surfaces on said supports adapted to support said panels and permit movement thereof from one side of said supports to the opposite side thereof, endless carriers comprising flexible strips, means on said strips for successively receiving said panels from the front of said series and carrying the same to the back thereof; the said receiving means being angularly disposedupon said strips "whereby the said panels are caused to slide 01f of the same on to the said supporting surfaces upon registry therewith. r

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a series of panels, supporting means adapted to support said pane1s,'endless carriers comprising flexible strips adjacent said supporting means and adapted to retain the said panels thereon, the said strips having notches therein, panel receiving means on the side of said strips opposite the said panelsfor receiving said panels upon movement thereof through said notches, retaining members mounted on said frame and adapted to prevent returning movement of said panel through 'said notches, and means on said frame for engaging "said panel and causing return movement thereof through said notches. i

14. .An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, stationary supports, a series of panels having rods extending laterally from the top and bottom thereof, supporting means adapted to support said panels, endless carriers comprising flexible strips adjacent said supports and adapted to retain said panels thereon, the said endless strips having notches therein, receiving means onthe side of said strips opposite the said panels for receiving the ends of said rods upon movement thereof through said notches, retaining members mounted on 7 said frame and adapted to retain said rods at the bottom of said panels in said receiving means, and guides associated with said retaining members for guiding said rods through said notches into said receiving means.

, 15. A display apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a' pair of shafts mounted in said frame, pulleys on said shafts;

endless carriers mounted on said pulleys and movable therewith, supporting members mounted on one of said shafts, a series of panels'supported on said supporting members in successive position, and means on said carriers for receiving said panels and successively transferring them from their displaying position to the back of said series, 3

' 16. An apparatus of the: character. described comprising a series of independent panels'adapt ed to be successively displayed, supporting members for said panels, bars extending transversely from the ends of said panels and into engagement with said supporting members, carriers comprising endless strips of flexible material.

adjacent the ends of said bars and receiving means upon said carriers for receiving said bars; said receiving means comprising notches in said carrier strips for the passage of said bars therethrough into said receiving means.

17. An apparatus of the character described comprising a series of independentpanels adapted to be successively displayed, supporting members for said panels, bars extending transversely from the ends of said panels and into engage ment with said supporting members, carriers comprising an upper and lower shaft, supporting members mounted on said upper shaft, a series of panels depending from bars mounted on said supporting members, pulleys on said shafts, carriers comprising endless strips carried by said pulleys, means on said stripsfor receiving said bars from said supporting members and notches in said strips for permitting the passage of said bars into said receiving means; the said sup porting members having means for preventing the passage'of said bars through said notches while the said bars are being carried by said carriers.

19. An apparatus of the character described comprising an upper and a lower shaft, supporting members mounted on said upper shaft and having supporting grooves therein, a series of panels depending from bars slidable in said supporting grooves, pulleys mounted on said shafts, carriers comprising endless strips carried by said pulleys and adapted to carry said panels from one side of said supporting member to the opposite side thereof and receiving means on said strips for receiving said bars; the said supporting members having a peripheral portion corresponding to the periphery of the pulleys on the upper shaft andthesaid endless stripsoverlapping the said supporting members whereby the said bars are retained in said receiving means while being carried from one side of said supporting members to the opposite side theref.

20. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a series of panels, supporting means adapted to support said panels, endless carriers comprising flexible strips adjacent said supporting means and adapted to transfer the said panels from one side of said supporting means to the opposite side thereof, the said endless strips having notches therein, panel receiving-means on the side of said strips opposite the said panels for receiving saidpanels upon movement thereof through said notches, retaining members mounted on said frame and adapted to prevent returning movement of said panel through said notches, and means on said frame for engaging said panel and causing return movement thereof through said notches.

21. An apparatus of the character described comprising a seriesof panels adapted to be successively displayed, laterally projecting bars at the top and bottom of said panels, supporting means comprising inclined surfaces for supporting said panels in displaying position by the bar at the top thereof, endless carrier means adapted to receive the said bars of the front panel of said series and to transfer the said panel to the back of said series in an inverted position upon said inclined surfaces, and means operable by said carrier means for preventing the passage of the bar at the leading end of said panel on to the said inclined surfaces and adapted to permit the passage of the bar at the opposite end of said panel on to said surfaces after the passing of the said leading end.

22. A display apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, supporting shafts mounted in said frame, pulleys on said shafts, endless carriers mounted on said pulleys and movablertherewith, supporting members mounted on said shafts, a, series of panels supported on said supporting members in successive position, and means on said carriers for receiving said panels and successively transferring them from their displaying position to the back of said series.

23. An apparatus of the character described comprising a, series of independent panels adapted to be successively displayed, supporting members for said panels, bars extending transversely from the ends of said panels and into engagement with; said supPOrting members, carriers comprising endless members adjacent the ends of said bars and adapted to receive the said panels from one side of said supporting means and carry them to the opposite side thereof; receiving means upon said carriers, notches in said carriers for permitting the said bars to move into said receiving means and retaining means adjacent to said carriers for retaining the said bars in said receiving means while the said panels are being carried by said carriers.

24. An apparatus of the character described comprising supporting members, a series of panels depending from bars mounted on said supporting members, endless carriers, means on said carriers for receiving said bars from said supporting members and notches in said carriers for permitting the passage of said bars into said receiving means; the said supporting members having means for preventing the passage of said bars through said notches While the said bars are being carried by said carriers.

JOHN R. BRAMZER. 

